The Raab Gorge

With a total length of around 17 kilometers, the Große and Kleine Raabklamm form the longest gorge in Austria. The Raabklamm nature and hiking paradise is located near the district capital of Weiz and borders the "Naturpark Almenland" nature park in Arzberg. Experience the natural beauty of the Raabklamm in a special way. The ideal hiking area for young and old and families with children. With a bit of hiking luck, you can admire dippers, gray herons and black storks feeding along the Raab river.

Nature and landscape tours with schools, clubs and companies are possible in the Raabklamm gorge by prior arrangement.
Duration of the tour: between 2 and 4 hours - depending on your wishes.

The Große Raabklamm gorge was designated a nature conservation area in 1970 due to its special conservation value in terms of the diversity of flora and fauna and has been a European nature reserve and Natura 2000 site no. 9 since 1996. Hiking through the Raabklamm Gorge is only permitted on marked paths. The hiking trails are well signposted with information and signposting boards.

More information about the various entry points with walking times, trail lengths and the flora and fauna can be found in the Raabklamm hiking book . The book is available from bookshops in Weiz, Graz, Gleisdorf, Hartberg, Feldbach and at the tourist offices Almenland and Weiz, as well as from the Raabklamm innkeepers and Raabklamm communities of Arzberg, Gutenberg, Mitterdorf, Mortantsch and Naas. It is also possible to order on the Raabklamm website.

Flora & Fauna:

The Raab cuts through the limestone area between Schöckl and Sattelberg and flows through the gorge largely in its natural state. Near-natural beech and maple-ash forests can be found on the steep slopes. As early as spring, the woodruff stretches out its delicate white flowers in the still sparse forest. A little later, the initially pink-flowered spotted lungwort, which increasingly changes its flower color to blue, creates a colorful picture in the cool, damp deciduous forest.

Numerous tall perennials thrive on the gravel islands directly in the riverbed of the Raab. Here, for example, the dark pink to white-flowered white night violet, which is over 1.5 meters tall, comes into bloom. It is one of the rarer species in Styria. Horse mint and bitter bittercress also thrive here.

Birds from the animal world find their habitat here, which need old trees, some of which are already dead. Black stork, pygmy owl and eagle owl nest here. The numerous caves in the gorge are important winter quarters for the lesser and greater mouse-eared bat and the pug bat. From the insect world, Austria's largest dragonfly species is definitely worth mentioning: The striped damselfly.

Hikes in the Raabklamm gorge:

Great Raabklamm circular route

Raabklamm gorge hike from Arzberg to Mortantsch